Want to learn how to play the notes of the composition Joy to the World on the piano? That’s perfect, right here!
Joy to the World is a popular American Christmas carol. It’s based on a poem written by Isaac Watts in 1719, and was set to music by Lowell Mason in 1839.
The carol has been covered and adapted by many artists over the years. By the end of the twentieth century, Joy to the World had become the most widely published Christmas song in the United States.
Among the stars who have covered the song are such renowned artists as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Pentatonix, to name but a few. Each has brought their own interpretation to this iconic song, contributing to its continued popularity through the decades.
In this article, we’ll show you how to play the notes of Joy to the World on the piano. We’ll start with the notes for the right hand, followed by those for the left. Then we’ll combine them to play with both hands at the same time. Each step is detailed and illustrated by a video tutorial.
Our aim, at the end of this article, is that you should be able to play this song on the piano without any problems. We’ll also give you the sheet music for Joy to the World in PDF format, so you can play it again whenever you like!
So, are you ready to start learning the notes of this classic Christmas carol on the piano?
Bonus : you can also learn to play this song at your own pace on our interactive piano learning app La Touche Musicale.
Free download: >> >> The guide to learn 10 easy piano pieces.
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First, let’s take a brief look at the fundamentals of piano playing. If you’ve already mastered the layout of the keys on the keyboard, you can skip ahead to the next section.
For those less familiar with note spotting, we recommend that you pay particular attention to the following representation of the keyboard:
The name of the notes on a piano keyboard.
In this diagram, you can see all the keys on the keyboard and their correspondences with the notes C, D, E, F, G, A and B.
Each series of seven notes on the keyboard forms an octave, repeating cyclically. By familiarizing yourself with these notes, you’ll be better prepared to play Joy to the World.
Have you taken a good look at the black keys? We notice that they are grouped in twos and threes. This makes it easier to find your way around the keyboard.
To find a specific note, we use the reference note: C. It’s always to the left of a note. It’s always to the left of a group of black keys. Once you’ve identified the C, it’s easier to locate other notes like F, G, etc.
It’s useful to practice recognizing these different notes on the keyboard. Once you’re comfortable with this exercise, it will be easier to tackle the content on interpreting the notes of Joy to the World on the piano.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s explore how to play Joy to the World on the piano with the right hand.
Our beloved right hand is generally destined to play the melody of the piece. It’s the most easily identifiable and memorable part of the music. It’s often the most expressive and emotional part of a composition, and the one that brings the music to life.
So let’s identify the first note to be played with the right hand for this melody. You’ll be able to spot it on your keyboard. The first note is C.
The note C is the first note you should play with your right hand for the piano composition Joy to the World.
How easy is it to spot the C on the keys of your keyboard? Excellent!
Now that you’ve got your starting point, you’re ready to dive into the sequence of notes that make up the joyful melody of Joy to the World, to be played on the piano with your right hand. Successively press the keys on your keyboard corresponding to these notes:
C – B – A – G – F – E – D – C – G – A – A – B – B – C – C – C – B – A – G – G – F – E – C – C – B – A – G – G – F – E – E – E – E – E – F – G – F – E – D – D – D – E – F – E – D – C – C – A – G – F – E – F – E – D – C
By practicing this sequence of notes several times, you’ll be able to easily play the entire melody in rhythm with your right hand on the piano!
Joy to the World on the piano: the notes of the right hand.
To speed up your learning, we recommend that you practice playing the melody with this video. It will show you exactly which keys to play and how long to press them with your right hand to recreate the melody of the song.
So, press the keys on your keyboard that correspond to the keys on the virtual keyboard, and press the key on your keyboard for as long as the note on the video is in contact with the key on the virtual keyboard.
Now it’s your turn! Play joyfully like the spirit of this hymn!
Congratulations on being able to play the melody of this famous spiritual song with your right hand!
Now let’s move on to the notes to be played with the left hand!
La Touche Musicale app waits for you to play the right note with your right hand on your piano before moving on to the next one.
Now let’s practice playing the notes of the Joy to the World piano accompaniment with our left hand!
The accompaniment consists of chords or rhythmic patterns that support the main melody, enriching the music by adding harmonies and nuances.
As with the right hand, the first step is to identify on your keyboard the first note to be played with the left hand. For Joy to the World, the first note of the accompaniment is actually a chord: C+G.
A chord in music is the combination of several notes played simultaneously, creating a specific harmonic sound.
C+G are the first notes you should play with your left hand for the piano composition Joy to the World.
You’ve played the C+G chord on your keyboard? What a joy!
Now you’ll love playing the accompaniment too! Successively press the keys on your keyboard corresponding to the following notes:
C + G – C – C – G – C – F – G – C – C + G – C + G – C – G – G – C – F – C – F – G – C
Rehearse as often as necessary, so that you feel as comfortable as possible and the sequence of notes flows smoothly.
Joy to the World on the piano: the notes of the left hand.
And now it’s time to put the rhythm to the notes! Our video tutorial will guide you through the piano accompaniment of Joy to The World.
The instructions are the same as for the right hand: press the keys on your keyboard corresponding to those on the virtual keyboard, and keep your finger on the keyboard key for as long as the note is playing on the screen.
Enjoy the moment! If the notes scroll too quickly, pause the video and replace your fingers.
The La Touche Musicale app waits for you to play the correct note with your left hand on your piano before moving on to the next.
Wonderful! The melody and accompaniment were learned separately. The next objective is to coordinate both hands together. Playing with both hands at the same time is an exercise that you don’t usually get right the first time, except in the case of little prodigies. So take heart!
Don’t procrastinate, just go for it! You’ll see, it’ll all be worth it!
Soak up the following tips and techniques for playing the piano with both hands:
Learning to play the left and right hands simultaneously at the piano may seem complex at first, but with a little enthusiasm and perseverance, you’ll master the technique.
Joy to the World on the piano: the notes of both hands.
Discover our latest video tutorial which will guide you through the subtleties of playing the notes of the composition Joy to the World on the piano with both hands.
Perseverance and regular practice are essential. Beware of tempo changes 😉 and be demanding about the harmony of your hands. Don’t run away from a little difficulty, persevere and win!
Don’t hesitate to pause the video to reposition your hands or to analyze a more complex passage. If you’re using our La Touche Musicale app, the learning mode will follow your progress and pace.
We’ll be right back!
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The La Touche Musicale app waits for you to play the right notes with both hands on your piano before moving on to the next.
Proud of you?! We’re sure you are! You’ve developed the technique needed to play the full Joy to the World! Next Christmas is going to be divinely musical and joyful!
We invite you to discover the other tutorials on our blog. In the meantime, we’ve put together a selection for you:
The magic of Christmas! You’ve been given the gift of being able to play the notes of Joy to the World on the piano with both hands.
To make this article even richer, we’ve provided this download link to the sheet music for Joy to the World in PDF format.
And don’t forget that for an instructive learning experience that’s as merry as the holidays, our La Touche Musicale app is there to support you.
See you soon!
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